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Expert Alert: Pride Month

Waterloo – Each year during the month of June, Pride Month celebrates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and other communities.

The following Laurier experts are available to comment on LGBTQ and Pride Month topics:

Michael Woodford, associate professor in Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work, is an expert on the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ youth. Woodford’s research explores how contemporary discrimination can increase LGBTQ youth's risk for poor mental health and other negative outcomes, as well as the factors that can foster their resilience to discrimination. He also studies the nature of attitudes toward LGBTQ people, including the role of religious factors. Contact information: 519-998-4514 or mwoodford@wlu.ca.

Robb Travers, associate professor and chair of Laurier’s Department of Health Sciences, is an expert on transgender and LGBTQ communities. He is a co-principal investigator with the Trans PULSE project, a community-based research project that was established to respond to problems within Ontario transgender communities regarding access to health and social services. The federal department of justice cited this project to support the recent legislation changes. Contact information: 519-884-0710 x3276 or rtravers@wlu.ca.

Simon Coulombe, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, is an expert on understanding and reducing the wellbeing inequalities faced by stigmatized communities (e.g. LGBTQ, people living with physical or mental health disabilities, etc.) with a focus on the role of housing and community mental health services and policies. Contact information: 519-884-0710 x3082 or scoulombe@wlu.ca.

Jeffrey Aguinaldo, associate professor in the Department of Sociology, is an expert on gay men’s health, especially with respect to sexual health, recreational substance use, harm reduction, and service provision. Contact information: 519-884-0710 x3031 or jaguinalo@wlu.ca.

Nathan Rambukkana, assistant professor in Laurier’s Department of Communication Studies, is an expert on queer theory and critical intimacy theory. His work centres the cultural study of discourse, politics and identity. Contact information: 519-884-0710 x4346 or nrambukkana@wlu.ca.

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Media Contacts:

Kevin Crowley

Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Wilfrid Laurier University